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Afghan forces rescue over 100 bus passengers abducted by Taliban
[France24] Afghan forces launched a lightning operation in northern Afghanistan on Monday, rescuing 149 people, including women and children, abducted by the Taliban. Operations to free another 21 were still underway.The Afghan security operation was launched hours after the Taliban ambushed a convoy of buses en route to the Afghan capital, Kabul, in the northern province of Kunduz, according to local officials and a bus union representative. The incident came despite President Ashraf Ghani's call on Sunday for a ceasefire with the Taliban during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha later this week. At least seven Taliban fighters were killed in the fighting, according to Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry. The 21 other passengers who were still in captivity are believed to be Afghan government or security services employees. A Taliban spokesman confirmed the ambush in Kunduz and said the group planned to release civilians but would keep Afghan security forces in custody. Posted by: Besoeker 2018-08-20 |
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